Baghlan residents denounce govt inefficiency

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): The residents of northern Baghlan province on Saturday staged a protest against what they called officials’ incompetency and growing corruption in government departments.

The demonstrators blocked a highway connecting Pul-i-Khumri with Kabul. The protests started at around 10:00 am from Sar-i-Chowk area of the provincial capital.

Hundreds of protesters gathered under the umbrella of the Afghanistan Green Trend, a movement led the country’s former spymaster Amarullah Saleh.

They blamed the local authorities for spiraling corruption and demanded their immediate resignation.

“Corruption and incompetency have reached their peak in Baghlan. Government officials show no responsibility in serving the people. We want them to resign,” said Jamshed, a fiery protester.

Hashmatullah, another demonstrator, warned if the government did not take action on their demands then they would launch series of protests. Closure of the main highway troubled passengers and drivers.